Saturday, April 30, 2016

Vern
Wheeler dominated the action in the season opener for the Pennzoil
Winged Sprint Cars. Vern won the heat race before leading every lap of
the 25 lap Main Event. V. Wheeler found his pace slowed by traffic by
lap 18, allowing Jake Wheeler and Jeffrey Hudson to close the gap.
However, V. Wheeler pulled away after moving by traffic and scored the
impressive victory. J. Wheeler was second with Hudson a close third.
Camden Robustelli outdueled Todd Whipple for the fourth place finish.

Steve
Borror staged a dominating performance in the Valley Boys Auto Sales
Outlaw Pro Stock 20 lap Main Event. Borror came from mid pack and
chased down two time champion Ken Irving by lap five. Borror raced by
on the inside down the front stretch on lap eight and was never
seriously threatened as he won by a half lap. Irving settled for second
ahead of James Flowers and Roy Bain. Matt Harlow was a lap down for
the fifth place finish, right in front of Johnny Cobb. Rick Lukens and
Irving were heat race winners.

In the Dwarf Car action, it was a
return of The King as two time defending champion Josh King won
impressively in the Main Event. Ryan Smith led five laps before King
moved in for a side by side battle on the restart. On lap eight, King
slipped by on the inside in Turn 2 and would pull away from there to a
straightaway advantage. Smith was a solid second place ahead of recent
Yreka winner Kalvin Morton and Chad Cardoza. Mason Lewman was fifth.
Camden Robustelli was the B Dash winner. Cardoza won a heat and the A
Dash. He also collected the $1000 prize in the special Fred Hay fund
raiser 15 lap race.

Bob Burkett opened the 2016 Mini Stock season
with a feature win and has reaffirmed that he is in fact racing for the
championship this season. Burkett has been runner up in points in the
Mini Stocks four times in his impressive career. Burkett had the front
row start and led for 12 laps before 2014 champion Gary Anderson slipped
underneath him for the lead in Turn 4. Burkett ran closely behind
Anderson until Anderson got pinned behind slower traffic on the
outside. Burkett made the inside pass in Turn 2 of the 18th lap and
brought it home to victory. Anderson settled for second with Marissa
Henson a close third. Kristopher Mix and Andrew Hall rounded out the
Top 5.

Racing resumes next week with the return of IMCA Modifieds
and IMCA Sport Modifieds. The Pennzoil Winged Sprint Cars and Mini
Stocks will be back as well. For further information, check the
official website at www.southernoregonspeedway.com

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

It's
essentially the 20th anniversary season for Southern Oregon Speedway.
The track opened back in 1996, and this marks the beginning of the 21st
season. On Saturday night, four divisions will compete on the fast
3/10th mile clay oval. The track will have a brand new promoter.

As
announced back in February, Mike McCann and K.J.E. Enterprises has
signed a 10 year lease to run Southern Oregon Speedway. McCann brings
with him 30 plus years of promotional experience at tracks throughout
Oregon and California.

During the course of the season,
the track will host 10 different divisions of race car, including IMCA
Modifieds and Sport Modifieds, Open Stock Cars, Super 4's,
Hornets and OTRO Hardtops. On Saturday night, it will be the return of
the Pennzoil Winged Sprint Car division, along with Outlaw Pro Stocks,
Dwarf Cars and Mini Stocks.

At many of the tracks in
which McCann has promoted, Sprint Cars have been an important part of
the program. The speedway itself had a regular Sprint Car division for
over a decade before the class was relegated to visitor status for the
past five seasons.

What is unknown at this point is who
will be supporting, but word is that 2010 Champion Chadd Noland will be
on the roster along with two young up and coming racers, Camden
Robustelli and Jeffrey Hudson. Hudson won the 2015 Pro Stock Championship
with his performance on the last night of the season, while Robustelli
came within 21 points of winning the Dwarf Car championship last season.

With
Hudson out of the picture, it appears as if the Pro Stocks will have a
first time champion this year. Leading that charge will be James Flowers
and 2015 point runner up Scott flowers. Recent Yreka winner, Steve
Borror and Scott Bennett are other drivers who are poised to make a run
in the point battle.

In the Dwarf Car ranks, Josh King
is the defending two time champion. King can expect some stiff
competition from the likes of Calvin Morton, Rob Gergel, Brock Peters,
Ryan Smith and Kaycee Sheeler.

The
Dwarf Car division has added a special 15 lap, $1,000 to win race,
thanks to an anonymous sponsor. The drivers will pay a special entry
fee, and all of that money will be donated to injured racer Fred Hay.

Hay
suffered a hard flip in a race a month ago in Chico, California. He
spent several days in the hospital and has since returned home. The
third ranked driver and two time Main Event winner last season faces a
lengthy recovery process.

After an impressive
championship season in mini stocks, David Marble has already moved up to
the Sport Modified division. Having ranked second in the points in four
of the previous seven seasons, Bob Burkett would seem poised to finally
pick up his first championship. However, he can expect some stiff
competition from teammates Mike Cloud, Eric Hanson, Kris Mix and Marissa
Henson. Also not to be forgotten is 2014 Champion Gary Anderson.

Saturday
night will be the first race of the season that will go all the way
through September 24th. Grandstands open at 5p.m. with the first race
slated to begin at 7 p.m.. Adult tickets are $12, while kids 6 through
12 and seniors 65 and older are $6. Children 5 and under are free.

With
new promoter Mike McCann comes a few changes at Southern Oregon Speedway. One of those changes is the introduction
of a new Open Stock Car class. The idea came about after some drivers
from the Street Stocks and Late Models approached McCann about getting
dates for their respective divisions this year.

During
the seven years prior to last season, the track attempted to run Late
Models for three seasons and Street Stocks for four, but it was a
struggle to get things going. After the Street Stocks were dropped in
2015, some drivers bolted for the Outlaw Pro Stocks, and others just
parked.

McCann is a believer in giving the fans a car
count and the racers an opportunity to establish something new. The Open
Stock division runs open rules on the cars on everything from tires to
motors. The idea is to put a car count on the track and allow drivers
to make a case for either division as a separate entity based on
support.

The Late Models have nearly a half dozen
drivers making inquires about this division, and one competitor already
on board is Steve Lemley. Steve has raced various types of Stock Cars
through the years as well as Hardtops, and he is building a Late Model
for this season.

Among the others who have expressed an
interest in racing some of the six dates that have been scheduled are
Blaine Taylor, Bob Dees, and Mike Linder. Linder is a name many people
already know as a Sprint Car star in the Southern Oregon area, and his
son Garen races them now. Mike currently has a Late Model. Dees
raced Late Models here in the past and recently got a new car.

Blaine
Thomas is a name familiar up north for racing Sprint Cars, IMCA
Modifieds and Late Models, where he had a strong second place season as a
Main Event winner at Cottage Grove back in 2014. There are others
watching the class closely with an eye toward supporting. If the Late
Model support can consistently reach 8-10 cars, it's not out of the
realm of possibility that they will become their own division.

The
Street Stocks were popular at the old Medford race track, but for
whatever reason were not included as part of Southern Oregon Speedway's
launch back in 1996. It wasn't until 2011 when the division was added.
It seemed poised to go somewhere, but after the 2014 season, it was
dropped. Ten different cars had competed that year. The division is
responsible
for bringing in two top area stars in Jorddon Braaten and Duane Osburn.
Both of them won championships in the class, before moving up.

The 2014 season
championship went to Miles Deubert. Deubert, third ranked Daron
Arnold, fifth place Garrett Dees, Chris Howard and Daniel Herrera fielded
cars that season and haven't raced much since. It is known that there
are Street Stocks sitting in the area, and this is the drivers' chance
to dig their cars out of mothballs and go racing again.

The
Open Stocks will allow Late Models, Pro Stocks, Sportsman cars and
Street Stocks to race together under an open rules set. It will also give the
fans a unique class to watch with varying styles of appearance. The
idea is to get something started now and see where it can go next year.

At
most of the tracks at which McCann has promoted, he's had one variety
of Stock Car at least, and it's something he wants to continue to do at
Southern Oregon Speedway. This is the chance for the area racers to
build something that can grow and become an attraction in the coming
years.

The first race is set for May 21th, and the
following dates are June 4th June 18th, July 30th, August 20th and
September 17th. It's the beginning of a new era in Stock Car racing at
the speedway. For further information and rules, visit the official website at,
www.southernoregonspeedway.com

Friday, April 8, 2016

White
City, Oregon...There were some concerns from the racing community in
the Medford area that the Outlaw Kart track at Southern Oregon Speedway
might not even have any races this year. Those worries were unfounded.
There will be a season under new Promoter Mike McCann. The fact is,
McCann has a history of promoting Kart and Micro Sprint racing at
several venues through the years. The season will be eight races
spanning from May through August as the struggling program is being
revitalized.

The Kart track was built back in 1998 by
Ron Shubin, who promoted some big events during his ten year run as
promoter. The whole idea behind this track is two fold. It's a way to
promote the family atmosphere in racing and it also helps grow the sport
as new drivers get their feet in the door at this track and graduate to
the bigger track. The roster of Kart graduates is impressive and
includes such hard chargers as Camden Robustelli, Chadd Noland, Seth
Nunes and C.J. Putnam.

No big changes are being made to
the rules as the classes from last year will return, including Beginner
and Intermediate Box Stocks, 125's, 250's 500's and a Micro Sprint
class that will include the 600's and any 500's or 250's drivers wanting
to give the one-eighth mile dirt track a whirl. The race dates are
May 13 and 20, June 3 and 24, July 8 and 29 and August 19 and 26. They
are all Friday night races, and the second race of each month is set to
be for an increased purse.

Children of all ages, and
the young at heart, compete in these classes. The youngsters in the
Beginner Box Stock class can be quite entertaining. Who knows? One of
them could grow up the next Camden Robustelli, Nick DeCarlo or Kellen
Chadwick, all of whom were champions at a young age. Last season, the
two Beginner champions were Drake Beard and Trent Florey. Florey won
after a battle with Tristan Lorents.

The Beginners
graduate into the Intermediate 5HP class, and the champion last season
was Trevor Grimes over Brenden Bartlett. From there, there are a few
more divisions with a bit more horse power. The 125's championship last
year went to Wyatt Pinchney, and it was Tanner Holmes holding off
Dillon Lausen for the 250's championship. Jason Benton battled Bartley
Foster for the 500's championship.

The Micro class is a
new addition that allows just a bit more power with the 600's and
allows the drivers in the 250's and 500's to run with them if they want
to. At several Kart tracks, the 600's have been the top class, but it's
just getting started here. The idea is to build up a show that can
rival the shows held in the glory days of the Outlaw Kart track not too
many years ago.

The Outlaw Kart track is sort of a
field of dreams for aspiring racers to get in at a young age. It's a
way to teach the younger generation mechanical skills and
sportsmanship. It also brings families closer together. This track has
helped make the racing community in Southern Oregon that much
stronger.

The good news is also the fact that the
track will be open for playday on April 24th. It will be the perfect
opportunity for the racers to get much needed seat time and work the
bugs out of their race cars. The track will open for cars from 3:00 PM
to 7:00 PM and pit access is just $10. Fans wishing to spectate at the
Kart or big track that day get in free into the grandstands. For
further information, check the website at www.southernoregonspeedway.com.

White
City, Oregon...When Mike McCann held the Southern Oregon Speedway
driver's meeting in Medford back in February, something interesting
happened. He was approached by drivers in two divisions that had no
races on the schedule, the Late Models and the Street Stocks. There
were said to be at least a half dozen drivers in each class who wanted
to come race.

The schedule was already filling up, but
McCann proposed an idea that seemed to be accepted by the drivers who
were there at the meeting. What if we ran the cars in both divisions
together to build a car count and see where we end up at season's end?
The drivers were receptive to the idea, and McCann drafted a very simple
set of rules, which are available on the track's website. The result
was the Open Stock class where there are few restrictions when it comes
to motor, chassis, body, suspension, wheels or tires.

In
fact, divers can run side boards, hearkening back to the old POSSE
Super Stock days. It's about putting on a show and putting cars out on
the race track. Fans will see a division in which the cars may take on
a more unique personality, the way it was back in the old days. That
is to say the cars won't look the same in style the way some other
classes do. The drivers will get a chance to put their cars on the
track and show what interest remains in Street Socks and Late Models in
the area.

When Southern Oregon Speedway opened in 1996,
the old Medford Street Stock division was not included, which surprised
a few people at the time. Late Models were generally invited a couple
times a year as part of the tour going around Oregon. However, there
was a time when the track did try to establish its own Late Model and
Street Stock divisions .

Flashing back to 2008, there
was a close Late Model battle between veteran Roger Lorenzini and Chris
Salyer that ended in a tie. Long time California Late Model racer
Skipper Klimcheck was a close third ahead of Jeremy Richey and Dane
Smith. A year later, current IMCA Modified competitor Andy Freeman
topped the field with Trent Elliot and Smith two points back in second.
Richey bested Monte Bischoff and Salyer in the third and final year.

So,
who is interested in running a Late Model? Stock Car veteran Steve
Lemley has already thrown his hat into the ring. Beyond that is just
speculation. Rumor has it that Klimcheck still has a car, and we have
to wonder who else might dig their cars out of mothballs for an
opportunity to compete on the fast three-tenths mile clay oval. Could
this be the start of a Late Model division in the future?

The
Street Stock division is an enigma. The reality is that this division
is still very popular, and yet not much was done to establish a class
until the beginning of the decade. The two biggest stars of the class
were Dwayne Osburn and Jorddon Braaten. Osburn won the first two
championships with Braaten in second both years before winning the 2013
championship. That was a season that saw the class have 12 different
cars in the standings.

It seemed like the division
almost took hold, but numbers dipped slightly with ten different cars in
2014. Miles Deubert won that championship ahead of Mini Stock graduate
Tyler Lockwood. So, who still has a car that they want to race? We do
know that Braaten has become the big Sport Mod star in the area as a two
tine champion, and Osburn nearly won a Modified championship in Yreka
last year. We also know there are drivers waiting for an opportunity to
return.

Now is the time for the forgotten Street Stock
and Late Model drivers to step forward and show that they want to race
at Southern Oregon Speedway now and in the future. Dates lined up
include May 21, June 4, June 18, July 30, August 20 and September 17.
That's six dates to build something that can continue to grow in the
future. Who is ready to step up and help get this started? We'll find
out in a little over a month. For more information on this and other
things happening at the track, check the official website at www.southernoregonspeedway.com.Past Late Model Champions

There's
a hint of newness in the air at Southern Oregon Speedway. It
isn't just that Mike McCann has become the new promoter of the
twenty year old racing facility. It isn't even because the Pennzoil
Winged Sprint Cars, presented by Hays Oil, are once again a regular
division at the track.

Some of the names people are familiar
with, such as Nutter, Menne and Rogers, may not be a part of the Sprint Car class
this year. Some of the names people may be more familiar with in
Oregon Sprint Car racing these days may only be occasional visitors at best.

However, this new era of Winged Sprint Car racing at Southern Oregon
Speedway will introduce some new Sprint Car stars to the fans. Regular fans at
the speedway already know how good of a race car driver young Jeffrey
Hudson is. He may get it from his father, Jeff Hudson, who has been a star of
Pro Stock Racing for many years in Oregon.

Coming up
from the
ranks of the Go Karts, Jeffrey got behind the wheel of an Outlaw Pro
Stock at the age of 14. Racing with the likes of longtime veterans like
Dave Everson and Ken Irving, Jeffrey won the championship in his
first year last year. Even more impressive was the fact that despite the
pressure of the
season finale and having to overtake the point leader, Jeffrey made his
best move and won that championship on the final night.

People
are already talking about the youngster Hudson, and they're saying he's
the real deal. This year, he's ready for his next challenge and wheeling
a Winged Sprint Car. Last Saturday night, he made his first laps in
the division in practice at Yreka.

Hudson won't be the
only
"Young Gun" in the Winged Sprint Car class. He will be joined by Dwarf
Car
sensation Camden Robustelli. Robustelli has been rising fast in the
Dwarf Car ranks after winning Kart championships before that. After his
fourth place ranking in Dwarf Cars and a big win in the National event
at
Santa Maria back in 2014, Camden came within a whisker of winning the
Southern Oregon Dwarf Car Association Championship before settling for a
very
close second last year.

The youngster has already gotten some seat time in
the Sprint Car with a couple of select starts last season. However, that
was just a tune up. The team will be putting more attention into the
Sprint Car effort this year. It could just be that the first
championship of the Sprint Car revival could be won by one of these two young
drivers.

Todd Whipple had been running IMCA Modifieds in recent
seasons and was a top five driver at Yreka last year. Periodically, Todd
has made select starts in Sprint Car events. The 10 race schedule at
Southern Oregon Speedway may offer Todd the opportunity to get much more
seat time and progress as a Sprint Car driver.

At every
race
track, you have the low buck racer who helps make up the field. You
won't find a more dedicated low buck racer at Southern Oregon
Speedway then Wayne Kniffen. Through the years, Wayne has ranked top
10 in Mini Stocks and top 20 in IMCA Modifieds. With the bigger
car counts back in those days, he struggled to make the Main Events.
However, he managed to win two B Main championships in the Modified and
Mini Stock classes. He also ran a few races one season and was Top 10
ranked in a Sprint Car. Wayne is
looking forward to coming back to Southern Oregon Speedway and giving it
a go.

The new era could make stars out of these four
racers, but
there are already some drivers with Sprint Cup
championships under their belts who will be part of the field. This
includes 2010 Southern Oregon Speedway Sprint Car champion Chadd Noland,
two time Orland Wingless Sprint Car champion Bill Hopper and 2015
Cottage Grove Sprint Car
Champion Patrick Dills.
Several other drivers are rumored
to be a part of the division this year, and we're waiting to hear
confirmation on who may also join the field.

It could
very well be that
some drivers won't declare their intent to race regularly at the
speedway until opening day. One driver getting some attention is Garen
Linder, who recently went down to California and picked up a
top five finish at Chico Silver Dollar Speedway. The popular Linder
would be a welcome addition to the roster.

One thing is for
sure, the Pennzoil Winged Sprint Car class will be a regular division at
Southern Oregon Speedway this year and in the years to come. For
further information on this division and the other classes at the
speedway, check out the official website at www.southernoregonspeedway.com.

White City, Oregon...With less than a month left to go, there are several drivers chomping
at the bit to put their cars on the racetrack. Nowhere is that
more apparent than in the Mini Stock division, where several Southern
Oregon Speedway competitors were seen on a racetrack making some practice laps.

The track was neighboring Siskiyou Motor
Speedway in Yreka, and a little over a half dozen racers were there. For
the last two seasons at Southern Oregon Speedway, there were three names
you needed to know when it came to championship contenders. Those three
drivers were longtime division competitor Bob Burkett, 2014 Champion Gary
Anderson and 2015 Champion David Marble, who is reportedly getting ready
for a move up to Outlaw Pro Stocks.

Eric Hanson and Mike Cloud were next on the point list last season, ranking fourth and
fifth respectively. Both racers are hungry to see the Winner's Circle
this year, and they could very well be drivers to beat in the
championship battle this year. The duo came to Yreka on Saturday and were part of the car show at McDonald's in Yreka before heading to the track for practice.

Two of last season's Top 10
competitors were also seen in Yreka. Seventh ranked Kris Mix and 10th ranked
Marissa Henson were there to put their cars though the paces. Mix was so
excited to get some practice laps that his car was primered and didn't even have a
paint job yet. He could feel the top 5 within his grasp last season, and
he's anxious to make it this year and perhaps see the Winner's Circle a
time or two. Henson had her beautiful #17 car out there making
laps as she tries to improve on last season's 10th place ranking.

Henson also ran the 250's on the smaller track last season and
brought it home to a third place ranking behind Dylan Lausen. Lausen will be a
rookie in Mini Stocks this year and was making laps in Yreka. Last
season, Lausen ran a Hornet a time or two and ranked second in 250's on
the 1/8 mile dirt oval next to the big track. He will be joined in this
year's rookie class by another driver making his first Mini Stock laps
in Yreka, Devin Weiser. Like Lawson, Weiser raced briefly in the Hornet
Class last season.

There is excitement in the air as the Mini Stock
division prepares for its 21st season of racing at Southern Oregon
Speedway. Several racers are hoping to make their presence known in the
battle this year, and these drivers were hoping to get a head start and be
ready when the gates open in a few weeks for the first race on April
30th. For more information about the happenings at Southern Oregon
Speedway, check out the official webpage at www.southernoregonspeedway.com.

Friday, April 1, 2016

White City, Oregon...Down
the road a little bit in Medford, the Pear Blossom Parade is happening
on April 9th, and some racers representing Southern Oregon Speedway will
be taking part in it. There is lots of excitement in the air as the
popular 3/10 mile clay oval in White City begins its 21st season of
racing with Mike McCann as promoter.

There is much to
be done to get things ready for the coming season, and McCann is busy
putting things into place. The good news is the rules will stay the
same for the divisions that have been there. No changes are coming
other than what IMCA has made with the Modified and Sport Modified
rules. Mini Stocks, Hornets, Pro Stocks and Dwarf Cars are steady as
she goes with the rules

The Super 4 drivers are trying
to reestablish their rules and won't be too ridged with the rules as
long as things are in the spirit. Sprint Cars are open enough to allow a
wide variety of engines to compete as the class gets rebuilt. The 6
cylinder Hardtop division will pretty much be what is allowed in
Roseburg, but on dirt. The Open Stock class is being started to give
Street Stocks and Late Models a place to race while McCann figures out
what to do next. Enough interest could lead to the two classes becoming
separate entities.

The drivers wanted IMCA to remain
as the sanctioning body, and that is the case. The concern was that
they wanted to run what other tracks were running. A schedule of nine
Modified and 13 Sport Modified dates was booked this year, ensuring that
the track champions will be recognized by IMCA and also that the
drivers can be a part of the Northwest Modified Cup and Sport Mod
Challenge Series.

A newspaper feature back in 2014
mentioned that Jorddon Bratten had an eye toward moving up to the IMCA
Modifieds. At that point, he was already a Street Stock champion. He
won the Sport Mod title that year and repeated a year later. At this
time, Bratten, who is one of the more popular racers at the track, will
be trying for three Sport Modified titles in a row. Jorddon pretty much
dominated at Southern Oregon Speedway and Yreka last year, but he
didn't win the IMCA State championship because the two tracks are in
different states.

To say that Mike Medel is not a true
champion is a misstatement. Mike did not make it easy on Bratten as he
was just ten points behind him at the speedway. Medel, who proudly
staked his claim to the Oregon IMCA State championship, was also very
competitive in his visits to Cottage Grove Speedway and Sunset Speedway
in Banks. Glenn Severson had a nice maiden season in Sport Mods last
year with a third in the standings, and he should come back even
stronger this year. Randy Fernandes improved on his Top 10 status of
2014 with a fourth place season last year. You also have to consider
two time champion Dwayne Melvin entering the Sport Mod's fifth season.
New cars are anticipated this season.

The big question
is who will be coming back in Modifieds this year? There are some key
names on the roster that he we haven't seen enough of in the past couple
seasons. Even after missing races, six time champion Mark Wauge was
still second in the standings and won some big races between Southern
Oregon Speedway and Yreka. If he comes back more often, things could
get very interesting. The same can be said for hard chargers liked Jon
DeBenedetti, Brian Poppa and Travis Peery. All are past champions, and
all are very talented racers. Can you imagine a season with all four of
these leadfoots racing full time? Add in a car from the Duste team,
and it would get even better.

Getting more cars to show
up regularly as they did in the past will be the key. There are plenty
of good racers out there, and even guys liked Tim and Jesse Bailey are
not to be ignored. Both have run up front with Tim Bailey finishing
third in points last season and Jesse finishing second the year before.
Speedway veterans like Zach Fettinger and Monte Bischoff, Brett
Provost, Jeremy Ohlde, Eric Mobbs, Andy Freeman and Brian Bowman are all
important ingredients to the success of the class. All of them are
primed and ready for their big moment on the race track.

And,
of course, you cannot possibly ignore Albert Gill. Gill is coming off
of back to back championships and going for a third one. He was a past
Top 5 Pro Stock racer before that. And there is one thing to consider.
As good as Albert is now, we haven't even seen his full potential. The
best may well be yet to come for Gill. Hopefully, this will come with
bigger car counts, and indications are that bigger car counts will
indeed be the case this year.

SODCA Dwarf Cars and the
Valley Boys Auto Pro Stocks have been moving right along with strong car
counts and good races whenever they come to town. Southern Oregon
Speedway will see lots of them this season, just as Yreka gets some
visits from both. In the case of the Pro Stocks, young Jeffrey Hudson
overtook Scott Flowers for the championship with a great effort in the
season finale. James Flowers was third, and, of course, Ken Irving was
Top 5 again as the two time champion was tied with John Cobb for
fourth. 2013 champion Dave Everson was busy winning the final race at
the speedway. Indications are that the class will remain strong and
competitive this season.

As for Dwarf Cars, Josh King
is the man on a roll with back to back championships, but nobody is
making it easy for him. Ryan Smith came within 17 points of beating him
in 2014, while Camden Robustelli finished just 24 points back last
year. King knows that if he slips up a little, somebody might overtake
him. With other hard chargers like Fred Hay, Kalvin Morton, Brock
Peters, Rob Gergel, Travis Gergel, Jesse Merrimen and Kaycee Sheeler in
the group, among others, the Dwarf Car class is more competitive than
ever.

We're still waiting to see who will be a part of
the Super 4 Mini Stock class, but indications are that drivers will be
coming from all over the state to try and restart what had been an 11
year tradition. It's assumed that the Top 3 finishers from last year's
one appearance, Lee Doty, John Barger and Charlie Eaton, will be among
the competitors. We'll be keeping an eye on this situation in the days
ahead.

The Mini Stocks have a different situation,
David Marble, Gary Anderson and Bob Burkett have ranked Top 3 for the
past two seasons and pretty much dominated the action. Burkett has been
a front runner for several seasons, Anderson is the 2014 champion and
Marble won it last year. The question is, will there be a breakout star
this year to loosen the grip of the big three? As the fourth and fifth
place drivers last season, Eric Hanson and Mike Cloud are the likely
candidates, but what about second year racer Kris Mix, Andrew Hall or
Randy Simmons? It will be interesting to see where this division goes.
The good news is the car count was hitting double digits and on the
rise when the 2015 season came to a close.

Hornets are
the other question mark. Car count has struggled, and that has left
people wondering about the future of the class. However, the new
promoter wants to build this class up. Last year, there were multiple
nights when six cars showed up. Drew Fielder was the star of the class
and champion, but Mikey Johnson, Neal Coaty and Jason Peeble had their
moments. There were ten different drivers who had cars last season, and
one goal this year is to see the class have at least ten cars show up
for a race. The potential is there for this to happen. The other nice
thing about the Hornets is that they will help make new stars at
Southern Oregon Speedway. Of course, the web site for the track is www.southernoregonspeedway.com to find out about the latest happenings. The new site will be going live soon.

Well,
those six will be joined by Wayne Kniffen. Kniffen just announced his
intentions to come back in his #84 Sprint Car. The Kniffen family has
been a fixture at Southern Oregon Speedway since it opened with Wayne's
father, Ray Kniffen, and brother, Ray Kniffen Jr,. competing at the
track through the years. In fact, Ray Jr. still runs an IMCA Modified.

Wayne
has competed in a few different divisions at the track, going back to
the early 2000's in a Mini Stock. He went from 25th to 19th and then
8th in his third and final season in that class. He was also the 1999
Mini Stock B Main Champion. Since then, he's competed in IMCA Modifieds
with two Top 20 seasons to show for that and the 2007 B Main
Championship.

That wasn't enough to satisfy Wayne's
need for speed, which meant he decided to run the Winged Sprint Car
division that the track had at the time. He was ranked 9th in points in
2004. Wayne has competed here and there with the Sprint Car, but he's
decided to return to the speedway this season. "R & W Racing is
looking forward to racing at the new and improved Southern Oregon
Speedway this season, " he declared.

Kniffen brings
several years of racing experience with him, and he should equate
himself very well with the rest of the competition. The fact is, there
is a lot of excitement surrounding the return of the Winged Sprint Car
division to the track, More drivers will be expressing an intent to be a
part of the growing division, and there is a big announcement set to be
made very soon. For more information, check the official track website
at www.southernoregonspeedway.com.

White City, Oregon...Since
the gates opened for racing at Southern Oregon Speedway back in 1996,
Pro Stocks and Dwarf Cars have been a part of the racing program on the
fast three-tenths mile clay oval. As the track enters the 2016 season,
the Valley Boys Auto Sales Outlaw Pro Stocks and the SODCA Dwarf Cars
will remain an important part of the schedule at the speedway.

When
it comes to past super stars of the Pro Stock division, it doesn't get
any better than Medford racing legend Jim Walker Jr. and Frank Word III
Word won an incredible eight championships in a nine year span. In
fact, he was so dominant that past division champion Brian Poppa, who
had also won a Modified title at the speedway, had to come back to the
Pro Stocks to snap Word's title winning streak at four. Word went on to
win four more after that to reach his total of eight.

In
the modern area, the Valley Boys Auto Sales Outlaw Pro Stocks
Association is in their fifth season, and they are coming off of a
season that featured an incredible three car battle between Scott
Flowers and second generation sensation Jeffrey Hudson. Flowers seemed
to have it within his grasp, but it slipped away on the final night as
the talented teen Hudson claimed the championship hardware. Scott
Flowers settled for second while James Flowers grabbed the final podium
position in third.

Two hard chargers of the division
that we hope to be seeing out on the track this year along with 2015's
top trio are veterans Dave Everson and Ken Irving. Everson wrapped up
the 2015 campaign last year with an impressive win at Southern Oregon
Speedway, and he was also the champion in 2013. Irving hasn't been
outside the Top 5 since the association was founded. He was fourth last
year and second to Everson in 2013. However, the highlight for the
crafty veteran was his 2012 and 2014 championships.

Sometimes
referred to as Limited Late Models at other tracks, the Pro Stocks
feature some close Stock Car racing on a budget more reasonable than the
Late Models that have met on rough times due to the cost of the cars.
Generally, the class brings no less than 12 cars to the track, and they
hit the 20's at times last year. The car count and the quality of racer
within the ranks makes the Outlaw Pro Stocks very popular with the
fans.

John Cobb is anticipated this season. In his
initial campaign with the group last season, he finished in a tie with
Irving for fourth. Steve Borror was another racer who tasted victory
last season, and the Top 10 ranked competitor should be competing this
year along with other notables, such as Scott Bennett, Matt Harlow,
Rocky Nash and Dave Quick.

As with the Pro Stocks, the
SODCA Dwarf Cars do make occasional visits to Yreka and other places,
but they call Southern Oregon Speedway their home track. The Dwarf Cars
have had some amazing competitors through the years, and it's hard to
get much better than past champions like Jon DeBeneditti and Gary
Fitzsimmons. DeBeneditti has gone on to be a star of IMCA Modified
racing, but there are some incredible racers within the Dwarf Car ranks.

And
one reason for these competitors to want to be there is because of the
Annual West Coast Dwarf Car Nationals event that SODCA hosts at Southern
Oregon Speedway on August 4-6. The very best drivers on the West Coast
flock to White City to be a part of this gathering. The locals have to
be on their game as the already high talent level gets taken up another
notch.

In 2014, Josh King won a grueling battle with
Ryan Smith for the SODCA championship. It came down to the final week
with King winning by just 17 points. In his bid to repeat, he found the
competition just as tough when young Camden Robustelli shadowed him all
through the season. King did repeat. Robustelli was a close second on
the heels of his fourth place season of 2014. One of Camden's bug
moments came two years earlier with a big win in the National event at
Santa Maria. This year, he'll also be racing a Sprint Car.

Smith
had third for a while last year before falling back to sixth. Third
ended up in the hands of another talented racer named Fred Hay. Hay
was a feature winner on the circuit last year and ranked fifth a year
earlier. He could be the driver to make a bid to thwart King's effort
for three in a row, which hasn't been done since DeBenedetti did it in
the late 1990's. Calvin Morton is another driver coming off of back to
back Top 5 seasons, and he could step it up a notch this year.

Brock
Peters was fifth last season and should be another driver to watch in
the hunt. There's another rising young star in the group named Kaycee
Sheeler. Sheeler improved from tenth to eighth last season and was a
threat to win a feature on a few occasions. She just may do it this
season. Others to watch for include Rob Gergle, Travis Gergle and Jesse
Merriman.

Dwarf Car and Pro Stock racing is alive and
well in Southern Oregon, and both classes continue to produce great car
counts. Often times, the SODCA Dwarf Cars had the high count at the
track last year. It all comes out on the race track where the racing in
both divisions is exciting. That should continue to be the case. For
further information on the goings on at Southern Oregon Speedway, check
the officialwww.southernoregonspeedway.com website.

White City, Oregon...In
auto racing, you have to start some place, and the easiest place to
start at Southern Oregon Speedway is the Hornet division. This season,
it will be the third classification of Four Cylinder Stock Car racing at
the speedway. The Hornets, sometimes referred to as Four Bangers at
other race tracks, began at the three-tenth mile clay oval track in
2014.

The concept of the entry level division is
nothing new. Decades ago, many tracks only ran one class of race car
and could pack the pits with cars. Hardtops, Midgets and Super
Modifieds ruled the speedways. Eventually, the early Model Stock Car
was born as a second, entry level division at many tracks, and it
evolved into the Late Model through the years as Street Stocks and then
Hobby Stocks became the favorite entry level class of speedways
everywhere.

Over the past decade or two, more race
tracks started to see what others saw in Mini Stock racing. Southern
Oregon Speedway opened its gates in 1996 and included a Mini Stock
division as part of the program. They continue to be a part of the
program 21 years later. Heading into the 2014 season, it was decided
that an even cheaper, "bare bones" Mini Stock class was needed, and that
was the Hornet class.

A line in the original rule book
that sums up the philosophy of the Hornet division reads, "Cars must
remain Factory Stock. These are intended to be cars that we race, not
race cars."

These are Four Cylinder vehicles. Cars are
to be no more than 104 wheel base. Trucks to be no bigger than 108
wheel base. They must be stock frame, body, engine and suspension to
the make and model of the vehicle. No alterations, modifications or
additions allowed. This is a class designed for the novice to get into
racing and learn a little without breaking the bank to do it.

During
that first season, about a half dozen cars were built and competed at
various times. Robert Jones, Dale Tarp and Tyler Womack divided the
wins amongst themselves. Womack was a winner late in the season. Tarp
grabbed three wins, and the dominant Jones had six victories. Not
surprisingly, Jones left with the championship hardware.

It
seemed like last season saw the division sort of fly in under the
radar, but there were actually ten different cars to compete and six car
fields were reached on multiple occasion after a slow start. Drew
Fielder won three times, but the points were at least a little closer as
second place Mikey Johnson came on strong at the end. There were more
winners as Lon Fox, Jason Peeble and Brian Dickens each got a win of
their own.

Promoter Mike McCann is hoping to see this
division have a breakout year with more drivers joining the
competition. To meet that end, a more relaxed schedule of six race
dates was created to make it easier for more racers to support the
races. It also allows the track to rotate other Mini Stock classes to
give all of the racers a chance to recover and prepare for the next
race.

The first race is scheduled for May 14 with other
dates booked on June 4, June 18, July 30, August 20 and September 17.
Optimism is high for a good season for this division and more new cars
on the race track. For further information on this division and other
happenings at Southern Oregon Speedway, check the official website at www.southernoregonspeedway.com.

White City, Oregon...When
Mike McCann took over as promoter at Southern Oregon Speedway, he
looked over all of the divisions to make plans for this season. In
looking at the Modified and Sport Modifieds, he learned one thing early
on from the competitors. They wanted to keep the IMCA sanctioning. The
oldest sanctioning body for auto racing in the United States, IMCA
provides these classes with a good set of rules. The drivers know what
they are getting when they show up to compete at an IMCA sanctioned race
track.

The Modifieds will run a nine race schedule,
which also allows the drivers to visit neighboring tracks and vise
versa. It is hoped that car count will continued to grow. The Sport
Mod drivers get 13 races, which also makes the minimum dates required to
be a part of Steve Kerstulovich's NW Sport Modified Challenge Series.
The Series was added after two successful years of the NW Modified Cup,
which Southern Oregon Speedway drivers also get the opportunity to be a
part of.

There have been some very talented Modified
drivers who have passed through the gates of this race track throughout
its 20 year history, and it could be that Albert Gill is the lesser
known champion of those drivers. Gill has sort of flown in under the
radar, but he's done so as the two time defending champion. Gill
climbed up through the ranks of the track's Pro Stock division, where he
was also a Top 5 driver on multiple occasions.

One of
the drivers voicing his desire for IMCA sanctioning was the talented
Mark Wauge. Really, it doesn't matter if the class is sanctioned,
unsanctioned or even running wings. Over one-quarter of the times (6 of
the 20 seasons), Mark has left the track as the champion. He's also
won the prestigious Lon Skinner Memorial race once among his numerous
feature victories, and he's certainly among the favorites to do it again
this year.

The Bailey Team, Jesse Bailey and Tim
Bailey, should not be counted out this season. Tim finished a strong
third in the standings last year ahead of Jesse, who has had a string of
Top 5 point seasons. In fact, Jesse was second to Gill in the 2014
point battle. Not to be forgotten in the mix, as if he could be, was
last season's fourth place point runner, Brian Poppa. Like Gill, Poppa
came up through the Pro Stocks, but Poppa actually won a championship
there before doing it again in Modifieds. Brian's impressive
credentials includes three wins in the Lon Skinner Memorial race.

The
fact is, there are several good racers at Southern Oregon Speedway,
making this the place to be for IMCA Modified racing on any night this
class is on the schedule. Two other past champions, Travis Peery and
Jon DeBenedetti, were among the competitors last season and are factors
when they show up. Add in other names, such as Zach Fettinger, Brett
Provost, Eric Mobbs, Jeremy Ohlde and Monte Bischoff, and you have a
competitive Modified division.

The IMCA Sport Modifieds
are heading into their fifth season, and perhaps the biggest star in
the division at any of the tracks in the area is Jorddon Braaten.
Jorddon backed up his 2014 title with another championship romp last
year. He is also a past Street Stock champion, but last year was an
amazing season that saw him win many times at both Southern Oregon
Speedway and neighboring Yreka. Braaten may be hard to beat this year
in the track championship battle as well as the NW Sport Modified
Challenge.

Two names to keep an eye on are Mike Medel
and Dwayne Melvin. Medel finished second in points last year while also
winning the Oregon State IMCA championship. Melvin had a Top 5 season
as well, but he also won the first two Sport Mod titles at the track.
Bob Nelson is another driver to watch. He was sixth last season
following his third place effort a year earlier. Coming off of a strong
third place season of his own last year, ahead of Randy Fernandes, Glen
Severson could also be a factor in the championship chase.

The
Sport Mod division continues to grow and is poised for its best season
yet. The Modified division has the talent to put on a show to rival any
of the tracks in the area. Put them both together, and under the IMCA
banner, and you have a recipe for good things to happen on the fast
three-tenths mile clay oval. Who will come out a winner this year? The
best way to find out is to come see a show. For more information on
these divisions and Southern Oregon Speedway in general, check out the
official track web page at www.southernoregonspeedway.com.

White City, Oregon...When
Mike McCann announced that he was starting a Sprint Car class shortly
after taking over the reigns of Southern Oregon Speedway, people began
to talk. There are several Sprint Car drivers in the area who would
like to have a home track to race at, and the fast three-tenth mile dirt
oval was home to a Sprint Car division for over a decade. In recent
years, Sprint Car racing was mostly booked for the traveling groups that
would stop by.

The ten race schedule booked for the
coming season will change all of that, and we have roughly ten drivers
who have expressed interest in being a part of it. Two of the latest
names come with championship credentials. Patrick Dills won the Extreme
Sprint Car Championship last year at Cottage Grove Speedway on the
strength of three feature wins. He also finished a strong third in the
360 Sprint Car class.

The Sprint Cars haven't had a
championship season at Southern Oregon Speedway since 2010. In an
effort to get the cars out there, McCann has made it an open class that
will allow the winged and injected 410 and 360 Sprint Cars to race with
the carbureted Sprint Cars. The idea is to get cars back out to the
track, though its not likely that the 410 Sprint Cars will appear
regularly.

When last the division did have a point
season, Chadd Noland won the championship. Noland has thrown his hat
into the ring to be a part of the coming season. Noland and Dills will
be fast, and they join others, including Dwarf Car ace Camden
Robustelli, Orland Sprint Car champion Bill Hopper, Jeffery Hudson and
Todd Whipple, on the growing roster. Robustelli and Hudson are two of
the rising young stars on the scene, and Hudson is coming off of an
impressive Pro Stock championship effort.

There have
been some amazing racers who have competed in this division at Southern
Oregon Speedway through the years, including multi time champions Dan
Menne, Bill Nutter and Randy Rodgers. The new era means new stars will
have their chance to shine, but it could also mean that Noland or Dills
could add more championship hardware to their mantles.

The
gates will open for the 21st season of racing at Southern Oregon
Speedway on April 30th. When they do, the Sprint Cars will be a part of
the show. It's a night that begins a new era for the track and the
popular division. For more information, check out the official Southern
Oregon Speedway web page at www.southernoregonspeedway.com.

White City, Oregon...When
Southern Oregon Speedway opened up back in 1996, one of the regular
divisions of the time was the Mini Stock class. Fast forward to the 21st
season, and you'll see that the Mini Stocks are still a part of the
program. However, you'll see something else.

The entry
level Hornet division will be back for its third season, but that's not
all. The Super 4's will also be a part of the coming season. This souped
up Mini Stock division had been a part of the program for over a
decade, but they have been missing for the past few seasons.

Last
season, a few of the Super 4 drivers approached track management about
returning and were given a date. It was Lee Doty who picked up the win
ahead of past champion John Barger and Charlie Eaton that night. The
event sparked the interest of other drivers to return to the track. A
field of 8-12 of these cars is expected when this division gets its
first race on May 14th.

If you've been following the
Mini Stock division closely over the last couple of years, the three
names that will jump out at you are David Marble, Gary Anderson and Bob
Burkett. These three drivers have been ranked in the top 3 in the
standings these last two seasons and have carved up a majority of the
main event victories amongst themselves.

Marble picked
up the championship last season, but that honor fell to Gary Anderson
the year before. Still yet to win the championship, Burkett has been
among the front runners in this division for the past several seasons.

Not
to be forgotten in the mix are Eric Hanson and Mike Cloud, who finished
fourth and fifth, respectively, last season. Cloud had ranked 6th the
year before, and both of these drivers could be factors this season.

The
Mini Stock car count had started to rise as the season headed down the
stretch last year. Optimism is high that this momentum will continue
this season. Word is that several cars are being prepared.

Two
years ago, the speedway launched the Hornet division as a way to get
new drivers out there. About 10 cars are known to be built at this time,
and the record shows that Robert Jones and Drew Fielder are the past
two champions. Neil Coaty was another front runner last year, and other
competitors included Mikey Johnson and Garrett Frederickson.

Mini
Stocks begin their busy season when the track opens its gates for the
first time on April 30th. The Super 4 and Hornet divisions have their
first race on May 14th. For further information on the happenings at
Southern Oregon Speedway, check out the official website at www.southernoregonspeedway.com.

White City, Oregon...When
Mike McCann began his tenure as promoter of Southern Oregon Speedway,
he had studied every aspect of the track to plan what needed to be
done. One of the glaring absences at the track has been a Sprint Car
program. For several seasons, the track had a winged Sprint Car
division as part of the program, and many champions have been crowned
through the years.

In recent seasons, however, the
division has been relegated to visiting status despite the fact that
there are some drivers in the area who would love to run their Sprint
Cars there. They will get that chance this season as one of McCann's
first announcements as the new promoter was to create a ten race
schedule for the division.

The rules are open to allow
drivers from the Sportsman Sprints, 360 Sprints and the 410 Sprints to
come out and race. The goal is to build and establish a strong Sprint
Car presence at the 21 year old racing facility. Where it goes from
here will depend on the drivers, but McCann is anticipating good things
for the division.

The ten race schedule includes dates
on the April 30 season opener, May 7 and 21, June 4 and 25, July 30,
August 20 and 27 and the September 24 season finale. The tenth date is
actually part of the prestigious Sprint Car Speed Week on July 9. This
means plenty of Sprint Car racing excitement for the fans throughout the
season.

As the drivers take a look at the schedule and
make plans, there are already four drivers who have made a commitment
to race at Southern Oregon Speedway this year. They are rising young
star Camden Robustelli, Pro Stock star Jeffrey Hudson, Sprint Car
veteran Bill Hopper and Todd Whipple.

Robustelli made
his mark as a Go Kart champion on the smaller tracks before moving up
the the Dwarf Car ranks. Not surprisingly, he became one of the front
runners there and notched a few big wins along the way before making his
Sprint Car debut last season at Southern Oregon Speedway. He is
looking forward to making more Sprint Car starts this season.

Hopper
has an extensive background in open wheel racing, but his recent
accomplishments are back to back championships in the wingless class at
Orland Raceway. Hopper managed to win a nail biter with Tony Richards
last season by having a better finish in the season finale.

Speaking
of battles to the end, young Jeffrey Hudson also won a battle that went
to the season finale in winning last year's Outlaw Pro Stock
championship. Hudson will be making his first starts in a Sprint Car
this season, but this kid has shown that he has the talent to wheel a
race car to the front of the pack.

Whipple has made a
handful of Sprint Car starts at Yreka and Southern Oregon Speedway in
recent years, and he's looking forward to more seat time this year.
These are just the drivers who have made plans to do some Sprint Car
racing, but more drivers are coming as Southern Oregon Speedway sets out
to reestablish a division this season. For further information, check
out the official website at www.southernoregonspeedway.com.

White
City, Oregon...February 17...The 2016 schedule for Southern Oregon Speedway
ushers in a new begging for the 20 year old racing facility. New
promoter Mike McCann released the schedule for the three-eighth mile
dirt oval track last Wednesday as he held a meeting with over 150 racers
and racing enthusiasts in attendance. At the meeting, McCann
introduced himself, discussed some of his plans for this season and the
future and then fielded questions. McCann's reputation as a racer's
promoter is well known. He has over 30 years of experience and is a
winner of the RPM Monthly "Promoter Of The Year" award.

The
new schedule will continue to offer all of the things that the fans
have come to expect from Southern Oregon Speedway and even more. The
prestigious Lon Skinner Memorial Race, won by Californian Bobby Hogge IV
last season, will be back with a $5000 first prize, and this big IMCA
Modified event will take place on September 2-3. IMCA Sport Mods and
SODCA Dwarf Cars are also part of that weekend's action.

The
IMCA Modifieds have nine dates this season, and the Roger Haudenschild Tribute race on
May 28th. Furthermore, the track will continue to take part in the IMCA
Wild West Shoot Out with a date scheduled on June 11.

There
was concern among the competitors that there would be no IMCA
sanctioning in 2016, but McCann put those rumors to rest by signing with
IMCA for another year for Modifieds and Sport Mods as well. This will
assure that racers from other area tracks will be legal to compete at
Southern Oregon Speedway and vise versa. It also keeps both divisions
involved in the Oregon State IMCA point race.

Furthermore,
Southern Oregon Speedway will also have a 13 race schedule for Sport
Mods that will ensure that the track regulars can be competitive in the
new series created by Steve Kerstulovich that pits the drivers at
various Oregon tracks and Yreka against each other.

The
SODCA Dwarf Cars will remain a part of the speedway with 11 race dates
scheduled. This includes the prestigious SODCA Dwarf Car Nationals
Event that attracts some of the best drivers from Oregon and out of the
state. This event is scheduled from August 4-6.

Of
course, the track will have the popular Mini Stock division on the
schedule with 13 dates booked. Also back will be the entry level Hornet
division with six dates and the quicker Super 4 division with eight
dates. The Super 4's were a regular part of the show a few years ago,
and the racers are excited to be back this year.

The
always exciting Outlaw Pro Stock Association will make eight appearances
this year, and that's not all. Sprint Cars are back at Southern Oregon
Speedway! McCann has made a commitment to establishing the crowd
pleasing division as part of the program with ten races, which will give
the fans a healthy dose of high horse power open wheel racing. This
includes a race during the prestigious Sprint Car Speedweek Series on
July 9.

For fans of the cars of yesterday, the OTRO
Hardtops will be doing some dirt track racing this season with five
dates being booked. Look for a few more surprises to be thrown in
during the 23 race season.

It all adds up to plenty of
great racing at Southern Oregon Speedway on Saturday nights. After the
April 24 playday, the season kicks off with an April 30 event, which
will be headlined by Sprint Cars, Pro Stocks, Mini Stocks and Dwarf
Cars. Further details can be found on the track's official web site, www.southernoregonspeedway.com.

A Brief Recap Of The 2015 Season At Southern Oregon Speedway

White City, Oregon...When last we left
Southern Oregon Speedway, Albert Gill successfully defended his 2014
IMCA Modified track championship. Gill won one Main Event along with
four seconds and two thirds last season, but he claimed the championship
by a wide margin over past champion Mark Wauge. Wauge led the Main
Event winner's list with three victories in the competitive field that
saw 11 different winners during the season.

Wauge held
off Tim Bailey by just four points to claim second in the standings,
while one time winners Jesse Bailey and Brian Poppa rounded out the Top 5
in points. The big feature wins of 2015 went to Wauge (Firecracker 50),
Bobby Hogge IV ($5000 to win Lon Skinner Memorial) and Jesse Williamson
(Speedweek race). Kellen Chadwick won the preliminary feature at the
Lon Skinner Memorial event. Yreka and past Lon Skinner Memorial winner Nick Trenchard won two times, while other feature winners last
season included Scott Lenz, Jon DeBenedetti and Andy Freeman.

In
recent years, Jorddon Braaten has established himself as one of the
stars of the speedway. The defending IMCA Sport Mod champion racked up
eight feature wins and one second, and yet he only beat Oregon IMCA
State champion Mike Medel by ten points in a close battle. Two of
Braaten's wins occurred on the biggest stage of the season, the Lon
Skinner Memorial.

Bob Nelson, Glenn Seversen and Matt
Duste each managed to pick up a feature win. Seversen would rank
third in the final standings ahead of Randy Fernandes and Dwayne
Melvin. Nelson led the division in second place finishes with four, but
he fell just short of Melvin for fifth in the standings as Melvin had
two seconds and one third.

Three drivers really shined
the brightest in Mini Stock competition last season, led by the champion
David Marble. Marble scored four feature wins, three seconds and two
thirds. His closest point rival, Bob Burkett, also had four feature
wins as well as three seconds and three thirds.

Meanwhile,
third ranked Gary Anderson impressed with his three wins, three seconds
and four thirds. Eric Hanson's high finish was a second, which helped
him hold off Mike Cloud for fourth in the standings. Yreka champion
David Steele made two visits and brought home a second and a third.

The
SODCA Dwarf Cars held ten of their events at the speedway, and Josh
King made the most of it with six wins and two seconds to hold off young
up and comer Camden Robustelli to win the club's championship.
Robustelli had two seconds and two thirds.

Ryan Smith,
Chad Cardoza and Brock Peters rounded out the Top 5 in points. Smith
and Cardoza both had feature wins. Smith also had a pair of thirds,
while Cardoza had two seconds and a third. C.J. Puttnam and Fred Hay
had feature wins. Hay also won the veteran's feature in the Dwarf Car
Nationals event, while Matt Sargent won the Pro feature and Joey Dale
won the Sportsman feature at the big event.

The Outlaw
Pro Stock Association ran a few different tracks, and eight of their
races were at Southern Oregon Speedway. Young Jeffrey Hudson only had
one win in eight visits, but he had five seconds, including the second
place finish he had in the finale that moved him past Scott Flowers into
the championship. S. Flowers had a second and a third at the speedway
to hold onto second ahead of James Flowers in the point race. Steve
Borror had three feature wins, while Dave Everson was a two time winner
and Dave Quick and Rocky Nash each had one win.

The
Sprint Cars will have a championship season this year. Last year, there
were four races. Colby Copeland won the June Northwest Speedweek race
ahead of Roger Crockett and Kyle Hirst. Hirst came back later in the
season and won that race ahead of Jared Peterson and Trey Starks. Seth
Nunes won the first Sprint Car race of the season ahead of Vern Wheeler
Jr. and Kyler Barazza, and Crockett won the next race ahead of
Peterson and Starks, meaning there were four different winners in four
races.

Racing against competitors such as Mikey
Johnson, Neal Coaty, Brian Dickens and Lon Fox, Drew Fielder won the
Hornets championship. The Super 4's made their lone appearance late
last season with Lee Doty winning ahead of John Barger and Charlie
Eaton.